What are complement-mediated diseases?
Complement-mediated diseases are disorders in which the immune system, specifically complement proteins, mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body. Normally, these proteins help destroy bacteria and viruses, but when they become overactive or dysfunctional, they can cause disease. These diseases, in turn, can lead to inflammation and organ damage, requiring treatments to regulate complement activity and protect healthy cells.
Quotes
“We are proud to be a founding partner and to play a unifying and structuring role in this collaborative approach aimed at resolving the difficulties encountered by people with rare diseases in Canada. By benefiting from expertise in both clinical care and research, this strategic partnership will make it possible to investigate new indications in the family of complement diseases and to develop personalized therapeutic modalities.” Dr. Jacques Michaud , Director of the Azrieli Research Center at CHU Sainte-Justine
“Our government is proud to support research and innovation to make Quebec a leader in personalized medicine. This new center of expertise will accelerate access to precise diagnoses made in Quebec and significantly improve the quality of life of patients suffering from rare complement-mediated diseases.” Christopher Skeete , Minister for the Economy, Minister responsible for the Fight against Racism and Minister responsible for the Laval region
“By supporting this major project, our government recognizes the specific needs of people with rare diseases and their families and the need to respond to them in the best possible way, through access to diagnostics, health care and cutting-edge treatments. Quebec is establishing itself as a leader in rare disease care, notably thanks to the Quebec Policy for Rare Diseases and the Quebec Life Sciences Strategy, which are unique in Quebec. We are thus committed to making lasting change by supporting the research community in this field, in order to offer innovative treatments to patients and promote significant gains in their quality of life.” Christian Dubé , Minister of Health and Social Services
“For many complement-mediated diseases, unique and complex laboratory tests are sent outside of Canada, resulting in even longer wait times for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The Centre of Expertise aims to bring together innovative complement expertise and testing under one roof to accelerate diagnosis and improve access to care. It also aims to reinforce our collective commitment to building a more resilient and equitable healthcare system, ensuring Canadians have access to the innovations they need.” Karen Heim , Vice President and General Manager of Alexion Canada
“This project marks a major step forward in the diagnosis and monitoring of complement-mediated diseases. By developing local expertise, we will reduce our dependence on foreign laboratories, which will not only accelerate access to diagnostics for patients, but also generate direct economic benefits for Quebec. This center of expertise will eventually help strengthen our autonomy, stimulate innovation and position Quebec as a strong player in this cutting-edge field, thus creating new opportunities for the health and life sciences ecosystem.” Jesse Paterson , Senior Director of Business Development at CQDM
“It is both a source of great pride and an honor for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation to support the development of such an innovative center, which leverages the unique expertise and infrastructure of the CHU Sainte-Justine and brings together partners around a mission that we fully support. It is essential to think big for the future of all children with rare diseases; the Center of Expertise on Complement-Mediated Rare Diseases is a remarkable step forward in this direction.” Delphine Brodeur , CEO, CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
“We are proud to partner with this innovative and collaborative effort to improve care and research for complement-mediated diseases in Canada. These diseases can cause serious damage to the kidneys, making timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of these diseases crucial. We are excited to support the Centre of Expertise and its projected goals to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with rare complement-mediated diseases that affect kidney function.” Elizabeth Myles , National Executive Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada
About the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center
The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center is a leading maternal-child research institution affiliated with the Université de Montréal. Focused on discovering innovative prevention methods, less intrusive and faster treatments, and promising avenues for personalized medicine, it brings together more than 200 researchers, including over 90 clinical researchers, as well as 450 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The center is an integral part of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, the largest maternal-child center in Canada and the second largest pediatric center in North America. Details at recherche.chusj.org
ABOUT ALEXION CANADA
Alexion, the rare diseases division of AstraZeneca, is dedicated to serving patients and families affected by a rare disease or life-threatening condition by discovering, developing, and commercializing life-changing medicines. For more than 30 years, Alexion has been a pioneer in the field of rare diseases. The company pioneered the biological complexity of the complement system to develop transformative medicines and continues to diversify its pipeline. It utilizes a range of innovative modalities to address significant treatment gaps in a variety of areas. Committed to helping more people worldwide with rare diseases, Alexion, a member of the AstraZeneca Group, is continually expanding its global reach. Its headquarters are in Boston, USA. For more information, visit https://alexion.com/worldwide/canada-french .
About CQDM
Biopharmaceutical Innovation Facilitator
CQDM is a non-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaborative research and development aimed at accelerating the translation or transformation of innovative technologies into solutions that address unmet medical needs, while generating significant benefits for the Quebec and Canadian economies. For more information, visit www.cqdm.org and join us on Twitter/X @CQDM_Canada and LinkedIn .
About the Kidney Foundation of Canada
Excellent kidney health, optimal quality of life, and a cure for kidney failure—this has been our guiding vision and leadership for 60 years. We embrace collaboration and innovation in developing programs, services, research opportunities, and awareness campaigns that positively impact the millions of Canadians living with or at risk of kidney failure. The Foundation’s national research program has become one of the most important sources of funding for scientists conducting kidney research. We also provide education, information, and support about kidneys and kidney disease.
Kidney Foundation – The Kidney Foundation of Canada
About the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation mobilizes communities to support the excellence and innovation that power CHU Sainte-Justine. It inspires and rallies donors with the ambition of transforming pediatric medicine and having maximum impact on the lives of children and their families. A true engine of change for the future of society, it elevates CHU Sainte-Justine, one donation at a time, to create a better world.